Kishtwar violence: Mayawati demands President's rule in J-K

Bahujan Samaj Party (BJP) supremo Mayawati on Monday questioned the judicial probe ordered by the Omar Abdullah Government into Kishtwar clashes, and demanded that President's rule should be imposed in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mayawati, who was speaking inside the Rajya Sabha, said that the violence in Kishtwar targeted a particular community.

"Many have been injured, some killed. Our Kishtwar district president's son was killed. Seventeen shots were fired at that boy, according to reports that I have received," said Mayawati.

"The state government's Home Minister was there in Kishtwar on the day this incident happened. He could have brought the situation under control, but that was not done," she added.

The BSP chief also hit out at the Jammu and Kashmir Government for delayed action following the clashes.

"The state government was caught napping and the judicial probe was ordered just this morning," she said.

Mayawati further demanded that the Centre should intervene in the matter and not remain silent.

"If an FIR is not lodged against the Jammu and Kashmir Minister of State, the Centre should dismiss the state government and impose President's rule," she said.

Abdullah has ordered a judicial inquiry into Kishtwar clashes which will be conducted by a retired High Court Judge even as entire Jammu province is under curfew for the second day today.

Abdullah, who took this decision after a high-level ministerial meeting chaired by him in Jammu today, said the inquiry will be completed in a time bound manner and the report will be made public.

Curfew continued to be in force in Kishtwar town on Monday due to prevailing tension in the wake of last week's communal clashes.

Educational institutions have been shut across the state and mobile internet services blocked after clashes took a turn for the worse on Sunday.

Apart from Kishtwar, seven other districts are under curfew, including Jammu and Rajouri, following acts of arson and violence.

Army personnel continue to patrol key areas to maintain law and order.

State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has ordered a judicial probe into the clashes that have claimed the lives of three persons so far.